Reading Room & Reference Manager - Special Collections

University of Nevada-Las Vegas; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 58,140 - 71,060; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plans

No state income tax

Tuition discounts

Job summary

UNLV University Libraries seeks a Reference and Reading Room Manager to provide strategic leadership of SCA public services, oversee the onsite reading room, and guide remote reference activities. You will supervise 3–5 student assistants and ensure high-quality reference support for patrons.

The role requires expertise in archival materials, Las Vegas history, and public service standards, along with coordinating copyright, reproduction workflows, and outreach activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
• 3 years of experience working in archives or library public services.
• 1 year of experience supervising students or paraprofessional employees.
• Competence and sensitivity in working with a highly diverse population.
• Knowledge of basic library operations and reference interview strategies.
• Knowledge of best practices for care and handling of archival materials.
• Proficiency with Alma and Primo, and project management software (e.g., Trello or AirTable).
• Strong customer‑service, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively across organizational levels.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Physical ability to lift boxes up to 40 pounds and maneuver carts up to 100 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement policies and workflows for the reference process, following professional standards for public services.
• Train all SCA faculty, staff, and students who work on the reference desk, ensuring a high level of customer service.
• Serve 8 hours per week on the reference desk and coordinate reference desk and paging schedules.
• Troubleshoot and resolve problems in the reading room and determine when escalation to higher authority is needed.
• Serve as the first point of contact for SCA email and phone reference requests, managing remote reference queries.
• Develop expertise in general Las Vegas and Nevada history and SCA’s archival and rare book holdings to provide effective reference assistance.
• Coordinate responses to copyright and permissions requests, including research on copyright status and overseeing the permissions process.
• Collaborate with Digital Collections to manage reproduction workflow, invoice patrons for orders, and manage PCI‑compliant payment processes.
• Collaborate with the Head of Special Collections Research, Engagement, and Instruction to develop and execute outreach events, coordinate instruction sessions, select materials for classes, and supervise students during instruction activities.
• Coordinate and provide tours of the division.

Skills

Public service leadership

Reference interview skills

Training and supervision

Effective communication

Project management

Organizational skills

Independence & collaboration

Physical lifting ability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Alma & Primo

Trello or AirTable

Job description

UNLV University Libraries seeks a Reference and Reading Room Manager to provide strategic leadership of SCA public services, oversee the onsite reading room, and guide remote reference activities. You will supervise 3–5 student assistants and ensure high-quality reference support for patrons.

The role requires expertise in archival materials, Las Vegas history, and public service standards, along with coordinating copyright, reproduction workflows, and outreach activities.